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152: 79 – No team has ever won with such a difference in NBA history.
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The Memphis Grizzlies celebrate the NBA record in Oklahoma.
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The mood at OKC? Probably not the best, as can be seen on Tre Mann’s face.
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The Grizzlies – without star player Ja Morant – don’t give OKC a chance.
The Memphis Grizzlies celebrate a historic success in the NBA: The 152-79 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder is the highest victory ever achieved in the history of the North American professional basketball league. The Grizzlies screwed the 30-year-old record of 68 points ahead on Friday night to 73 points.
“It feels great to be in the history books,” says Point Guard De’Anthony Melton: “Everyone has contributed to it.” True enough: Nine players scored double-digit points, while Jaren Jackson posted the best score with 27 points. Memphis was already leading 72:36 at halftime – even though the Grizzlies’ best player, Ja Morant (22), is injured and missing.
30-year-old record broken
This makes the Grizzlies the first team in league history to win a game by more than 70 points. The old record of 68 points came from the Cleveland Cavaliers, who had defeated the Miami Heat on December 17, 1991 with 148: 80.
For Oklahoma, former club of Swiss NBA star Thabo Sefolosha, it is the next record bankruptcy. Before the historic away defeat in Memphis, the City Thunder had the highest home defeat (57 points against the Indiana Pacers) in NBA history in May.
Meanwhile, last year’s finalists of the Phoenix Suns set a club record. The team around star veteran Chris Paul (36) wins against the Detroit Pistons 114: 103 even without the injured top man Devin Booker (25). This is the 18th straight win for the Arizona team – the longest streak in Suns history. (AFP / red)